Manager Kang Busy at Work

He has many duties.

He is the president of Yuseong Country Club, a director and player improvement committee leader at the Korea Golf Association, and the list goes on.

He was ready to take on more duties. He has led the Korean women’s golf team to the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship to be held in South Africa, and earned a couple more titles. Director Kang Hyeong-mo (age: 50) is the man.

Sporting a short haircut, he doubles as the coach and manager.

As a former national standing army athlete, he has 40 years of golfing experience and a three handicap. This background allows him to give the players advice on course analysis and strategy, as they go on a practice round.

He does not shun small tasks such as finding tables and ordering at the restaurant, registering players, and applying at contests.

“I do whatever I can to allow players to concentrate on their games.”

Director Kang takes up from his father, Honorary President Kang Min-gu of Yuseong Country Club, the title of “father of junior golf.” He finds skilled players and allows them to practice at the Yuseong Country Club for free.

He helped stars like Pak Se-ri (CJ), Jang Jeong (Industrial Bank of Korea), Choi Jin-ho, who won at the Korea Professional Golf Tournament last weekend, and Jeon Mi-jeong, who won the Women’s Golf Tournament in Japan.

Director Kang says, “I feel great pleasure in rearing budding athletes. I hope these young players equip themselves with mental strength that matches their skills.”

The Women’s World Amateur Team Championship opens on Wednesday, October 18. The Korean high school student trio – Jeong Jae-eun (Sehwa Girls’ High School), Yoo So-yeon (Daewon Foreign Language High School), Choi Hye-yong (Yeamoon Girls’ High School) – has entered the contest and will work to win the first championship for Korea in 10 years.

kjs0123@donga.com